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Mothers and Newborns Health Act Critical to the Health of Moms and their Babies
Washington, D.C., October 24 — The March of Dimes commends Senators Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Christopher Bond (R-Mo.), Blanche Lincoln (D- Ark.), and Jon Corzine (D-N.J.) for their leadership on the Mothers and Newborns Health Act, S.724, legislation critical to the health of mothers and their babies.
The March of Dimes overarching goal is to improve the health circumstances of mothers and children. One of the ways the organization addresses this issue is by working to improve access to health care services for pregnant women and their newborns.
The State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) is the only federally funded health insurance program that denies eligibility to pregnant women but covers their babies once they are born. “This inconsistency in eligibility is an anomaly that needs to be fixed,” stated Dr. Nancy Green, medical director of the March of Dimes. “S.724 provides states with an avenue to eliminate this disparity by allowing them to establish a uniform eligibility threshold for pregnant women and their infants while providing comprehensive care to both the mother and the child.”
“When a new mother goes home following delivery, the March of Dimes wants to be sure that she is healthy enough to support herself, to breast feed and care for her newborn, and to participate fully in her family’s life,” says Dr. Green. “S. 724 makes it possible for states to provide comprehensive maternity services—including postpartum care—through their SCHIP programs to income eligible pregnant women. Such care is important to the health of both a new mother and her baby.”
Contact: Christina Manero, (202)261-7582
Matthew Rhodes, (202)659-1800
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